MSDE BULLETIN

Keeping You Current on Education Reform in Maryland

September 28, 1999

Vol. 10, No. 15

State Moves to Alleviate Teacher Shortages

    The Maryland State Board of Education has approved two measures to help alleviate statewide teacher shortages which are projected to increase over the next few years.
    The board, at its September 24 meeting, approved recommendations in the annual Maryland Teacher Staffing Report, prepared by the State Department of Education. One recommendation was that 20 of Maryland's 24 counties be declared geographic areas with projected shortages of certified teachers. The report additionally recommended the board declare eight academic fields as critical shortage areas for all school systems.
    The board also voted to emphasize diversity and the shortage of males in the profession as critical need areas in future teacher recruitment.
    "By declaring geographic and academic field shortage areas, we can take advantage of opportunities that will allow us to combat shortages," said State Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick. "What many of our districts experienced in trying to fill vacancies in the past year will seem insignificant compared to what may happen unless we take pro-active measures right now."
     The Reemployment of Retired Teachers Act (Senate Bill 15), passed during the 1999 state legislative session, allows local school systems to reemploy retired teachers and exempts them from retirement earnings limitations.
     If an academic field is cited as a shortage area, college students become eligible for up to $10,000 scholarships annually in Sharon Christa McAuliffe Memorial Teacher Education Awards. Scholarship winners must agree to teach in the content area in Maryland schools for one year for each year they earn an award.

Board Takes Next Step Toward Reconstitution of Schools

    Continuing to show it will not tolerate underachieving schools that do not show improvement, the Board of Education has taken another step which could lead to a state takeover of the lowest-performing schools.
    The board has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP), beginning a process in which contractors must submit plans for overall school management. If the State Board decides to reconstitute one or more of 97 schools statewide currently on the reconstitution-eligible list, contractors will prepare plans specifically for those schools.
    "Maryland's reconstitution process recognizes that school reform ideally takes place within the community and occurs over time," said State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick. "However, when schools are unable to improve themselves, the state has a responsibility to intervene. At this juncture in the reconstitution timeline, it seems appropriate that we issue a RFP in preparation for full-scale reconstitution of schools."
    The State Board has legal authority to take action if schools do not meet established standards.
    In January 1994, the state named two schools in Baltimore City reconstitution-eligible. The list has since grown to 97 schools, including 83 in Baltimore City, 12 in Prince George's County and one each in Anne Arundel and Somerset counties.
    Two schools--Woodson Middle in Somerset County and Pimlico Elementary in Baltimore City--have made dramatic 20-point gains in their School Performance Index (a calculation based upon MSPAP scores, Maryland Functional Test scores and attendance rates). Seven schools have gained 10-15 points on the SPI scale and 17 have improved by five-to-10 points.

Former Teacher of Year Is Teacher-in-Residence

    Ed Silver, Jr., the 1996 Maryland Teacher of the Year and Milken Educator Award winner, has been named the state's first teacher-in-residence.
    Silver was introduced to the Board of Education at its Sept. 24 meeting.
    The Kent County "helping teacher" will use his one-year appointment to give a teacher's perspective on school activities.
    "We see the new resident teacher as someone who is able to put his finger on the pulse of education in Maryland," said Schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick.

Actively Seeking: Keys to Math Success

     Maryland, wanting to take pro-active steps toward improving results in mathematics, has formed a statewide panel to seek "Keys to Math Success."
    State Schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick named 28 original members to the panel, representing a cross-section of the teaching process.
    Dr. Francis (Skip) Fennell of Western Maryland College will head the panel, which may have additional members added including a representative of the Maryland Business Roundtable. Dr. Grasmick suggested at the Sept. 22 meeting of the Board of Education that she may also seek input from students.
    Results from the Third International Math and Science Study showed that the U.S. is the only country in the study whose students perform worse in math as they progress through grades. Nationally, the report said problems are most prevalent in middle schools, where only 40 percent of mathematics teachers have a major or minor in the subject.
    "We must be aggressive in identifying the problems so we can find some answers," said Dr. Grasmick.
    Among the items the panel will examine are:

The introduction of mathematical thinking to young children.
The background and training of middle school mathematics teachers.
The comprehensive training of principals.

Dr. Fennell said much attention is given to improving reading skills, but not enough is given to improving math skills. He indicated some progress could be made simply in giving the subject a better image, convincing students that mathematics will play an important part in their futures.

Principals of the Year Recognized by Board

     Two principals and two assistant principals, already honored this year for their outstanding work, were recognized by the State Board on Sept. 21 for their achievements.
    The Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals selected Karen Smith of West Side Elementary in Allegany County as National Distinguished Principal of the Year and Jane Sims of Worthington Elementary in Howard County as Distinguished Assistant Principal of the Year.
    The Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals selected Robert J. Kemmery, Jr. of Eastern Technical in Baltimore County as its Principal of the Year. Jean Haven of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Montgomery County was named Assistant Principal of the Year.

School News Updates

The Board of Education received updated reports at its Sept. 21-22 session on several issues that will have future impact:

High School Assessments: Field tests are slated to begin in the five core subject areas in preparation for operational administration of the tests in January 2002. Field tests to help establish a test item bank will be conducted this January in 75 schools in 19 Maryland local school systems. In May, field tests will be conducted in all state schools. In addition, negotiations are underway to conduct field tests at out-of-state schools in April and May.
MSDE/COMCAST: An agreement has been formalized in which COMCAST Cablevision will donate $2 million in cable ads and public service announcements over the next year concerning state school programs. The Maryland Congress of PTA's also is part of the program which aims to increase family involvement in education.

Childhood Education Conference Set for Baltimore in April

     The Association for Childhood Education International is holding its 108th annual conference April 17-20, 2000 in Baltimore.
    The conference is titled, "Moving Beyond Our Assumptions of Education and Learning: A New Role for Families, Schools and Communities." Scheduled keynote speakers include Johns Hopkins pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson and 1999 National Teacher of the Year Andy Baumgartner.
    The conference will include more than 200 sessions and presentations. For more information or to register, call Marilyn Gardener or Kathy Rickard at 1-800-423-3563.

MSDE Bulletin
School & Community Outreach Office
Maryland State Department of Education
200 W. Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Web site: www.msde.state.md.us

Ronald Peiffer
Assistant State Superintendent
410-767-0473

Neil H. Greenberger
Editor

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